Automatic pin-setting machine



Feb. 10, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MAcHlNE lO SheeLS-Sheekl l Filed May 5, 1946 Feb. l0, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT 2,628,098

AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. y?. 2 @fsw/M if /x Manso/#w07 Feb. 10, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT 2,628,098:

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1946 lO Sheets-Sheet 3 CIP/V5 J SWITCH 80X F 3 INVENTOR.

Feb. l0, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT 2,628,098

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. l0, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1946 INVENTOR. C/fiMfJ/faf/QJCHM/ HUM/vn 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 C H BAUERSCHMIDT AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Feb. 10, 1953 Flled May 5, 1946 Feb. 10, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT 2,628,098

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 0 260 .257 i .A LA. f2-B. 255 4 5 6 -zzl' 224-@ Feb. l0, 1953 c. H. BAUERSCHMIDT 2,628,098

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Feb. l0, 1953 c. H. BAuERscHMlDT 2,628,098

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1946 lO Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lAUTOMATIC PIN -SETTING MACHINE Charles H. Bauer-schmidt, Rochester, N. Y.

Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 667,149

I (o1. 27a-4e) Claims. rl

The present inventionrelates to apparatusgfor automatically setting pins on a bowlingr alley.

Suchwork as has heretofore been done on automatic pin-setting machines has been generally along the line of providinganapparatus through whichftwo diiferent'set-ups-may take place, de pending upon whether all ofthe pins are knocked down with the first ball `of a vframe or upon whether some ofthe pins yare leftstanding after the rolling of the -rstbalL WithI the previously vrproposed apparatus, if ail of the pins'are knocked/down Aby the first ball of the frame, the alley is-swept clear of the downed pins, or A deadwood-f'as-it is termed, and a new set of Vpins is placed on the valley ready forthe next frame. With Ithe previously proposed apparatus, on the other hand, if some pinsare left standing, afterv the yfirst ball `has been rolled, these pins are'lifted from the alley,the alley is swept clear of allpins that have been knocked down, and then the pins, that'were left standing, are lowered onto the alley again,` readyfor the rolling of the second ball of the-frame. After the second ball is thrown, a `whole new 4set of pins is reset on the alley, regardless of whether all of thepins have been' knocked down or-not.

With prior proposed designs for automatic pinsetting machines, therefore,v two pin-setting devices have had-to bel-provided, namely, one, which liftsfthe, pins that-are left standing-a-fter'the first ball-of the frame -isrolled and resets these vpins after the vdeadwood is swept from the alley, and the other, to set a whole new group of pins after the second ball of a frame is rolled, or in the event that the first ball of `a frame knocks down all of Since both of these vpin-setting devices have to set pins on the same spots `on the alley, difficulties have been encountered .in these prior designs in .getting the required pin-setting devices and their actuating mechanisms into position Where each can perform itsfunction without interfering with'the other. Moreover, with the prior proposed designs, mechanism had to be pron vided which would operate both pin-setting devices at the proper time and, further, which would insure vthat each of the vtwo pin-setting` deviceswould operate only. at lthe time when that pin-setting Vdevice should operate. Provision of two diierentpin-.setting devices and the actuating mechanism therefor naturally increases the cost of the apparatus. Moreov'en because the standing pins have to be lifted off the alley after the first ball is rollednto permit sweeping away of the deadwood, considerable loss of time is entailed in the pinfsetting operation unless all pins are 'knocked down with-'thevflrst-ball of a frame.

Furthermore, prior proposed types of automatic pin-setting mechanism have required hoppers or magazines in whichv t-o store' extra pins so that pins could be supplied to the setting device when a whole new set'of pins had to be positioned. With prior proposed types of automatic pinsetting mechanisms, moreover, involved and complicated types of conveyor mechanism have had to be employed 'for conveying the pins, which are knocked down and swept off the alley, from the pit at the end of the' alley, to the pinznagazine or hopper.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pin-setting mechanism which will be much less complicated, and thereiore much less costly, than automatic pin-setting apparatus Yheretofore proposed.

'A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic pin-setting mechanism which can function in a minimum of time and which does not require that the pins, which are left standing after the rolling of the rst ball of a frame, be

'fted oi of the alley and reset.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin-setting mechanism which will always function in the same minimum length of time, and

which will require no longer for operation when some of the' pins only are knocked down by the rst -ball of a frame than "When `all Vof the pins are knocked down by that ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic pin-setting mechanism in which a single pin-setting device only is employed regardless of how many pins are knocked down by a ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin-setting mechanism which will operate without a pin-magazine and without conveyors for conveying pins to a magazine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic pin-setting mechanism having simple controls to insure that it functions in proper sequence regardless of how many pins may be knocked downrby each ball of a frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic pin-setting mechanism of the type described which can be put in use on a standard bowling alley.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from' the Specification and from the recital ofthe appended claims.

lIn the pin-setting apparatus of the present inventionfstanda'rd bowling pins are used, but each has a piece of iron or steel 'set into its base. The pins are placed in the usual manner on ten `spots provided inthe alle'yiloor and arranged in 3 a pattern conforming to the relative arrangement of the pins required for the bowling game being played. Beneath the pin spots, however, are discs made of some permanently magnetized material, and to each disc there is connected an electric switch. When a pin is on a spot, the piece of iron or steel in the base of the pin attracts the disc and closes the switch beneath that particular spot, but when the pin is knocked down, the switch opens by gravity. At the start of a frameI when all ten pins are on their spots, all ten of the switches beneath the spots are closed.

In the pin-setting mechanism of the present invention, all of the pins are swept oi of the alley each time that a ball is rolled down the alley. if the bal-l is the first ball of a frame and only part of the pins have been knocked down, then, after all of the pins have been swept from the alley, pins corresponding to those that were left standing are reset on the proper spots.

The pin-setting mechanism of the present invention is preferably put into operation by the rolling of the ,ball down the alley. At the rear end of the alley is an elevator and beneath the iloor of this elevator is a normally open switch. When a bowler rolls a Iball down the alley, it drops onto Ithe elevator floor and the weight of the ball closes this normally open switch. This starts the motor that drives the sweep. Of course,

the switches under the .bowling pins, that have been knocked down bythe ball, are open, but the switches under the pins, that have been left standing, are closed. As the sweep moves downwardly and rearwardly, and before it strikes any of the standing pins, a switch is closed that es tablishes, with the aid of the switches under the standing pins, hold-in circuits to electromagnets corresponding to the .pins that have been left standing. These circuits therefore remain closed when the standing pins are subsequently knocked down by the sweep in its continuedrearward movement. The sweep continues rearward until it has swept all of the pins off of the alley into the elevator. Then a switch is closed which starts the motor -that drives the elevator, and the ball and pins are carried upward. At the end of its upward movement, the elevator is tilted to dump the pins and ball. The ball rolls down on rails and is returned to the head of the alley, ready for the bowler to use again. The pins drop between the rails onto a series of conveyor belts which lcarry them forward onto a series of trapdoors.

There are ten of these trap-doors, one for each pin of a set. These trap-doors are normally locked, but each has an electromagentically operated mechanism for opening its lock. As the sweep swings back on its return movement, after having swept the pins from the alley, and when it has reached a position forward of the foremost pin-spot, a switch is tripped that completes, in cooperation with the hold-in circuits described above, circuits to the electromagnetically operated releasing mechanisms corresponding to the pins that were left standing on the alley after the rolling of the ball. The trap doors corresponding to the pins, which were left standing, are therefore opened. The pins on these trapdoors drop into chutes which convey them to baskets that are aligned with the spots on the alley on which the pins corresponding to those that were left standing are to be reset. There are ten baskets, one for each pin. The weight of a pin dropped into a lbasket causes the basket to be lowered by gravity, and whenthe pin reaches the floor, the basket is opened, .allowing the pin to be reset on the floor. The sweep motor is controlled by a time relay, It is stopped long enough to allow the pins to be reset. Then the sweep motor starts up again, and the sweep arm is swung upwardly to inoperative position. At the end of its upward swing, the circuit to the sweep motor is opened and the machine stops. At the end of the upward movement of the elevator, the elevator motor is stopped, and the elevator returns to its lowermost position by gravity.

The machine is so wired that if all of the pins are knocked down by the first ball, then all oi' the trap doors are opened on the subsequent movement of the sweep, to allow setting of a whole new set of pins. It is also wired so that after the second ball of a frame has been thrown. all of the trap doors are also opened vto allow setting of a new set of pins.

The machine can operate with a single set of ten pins, but if it is desired to reduce operating time to a minimum, twenty or more pins can be employed. n this latter event, ten pins can at all times be .positioned on the trap-doors so that the pins required can be released to be reset at the proper time in the cycle of operation of the mechanism. Thus. the sweep can be operated faster since it is not necessary to delay the opening of the trap-doors until the elevator has been raised and the original set of pins has been delivered by the -belts onto the trap-doors. The extra ten or more pins simply remain on the conveyor belts until there is room for them to be positioned on the trap doors.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation at the pin end of a bowling alley provided with an automatic pin setting machine built according to one embodiment of this invention, parts being broken away for clearness in illustration;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the pin setting mechanism in front elevation and the bowling` alley in transverse section;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the pin setting mechanism and alley;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the alley showing particularly the spots for the pins;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of a bowling pin such as is used with the mechanism of the pres ent invention, the base of the pin being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the pin;

Fig. 7 is a plan view and Fig. 8 a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through one of the spots;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation and Fig. l0 a bottom plan view of a pin basket, built according to one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the trap doors and the mechanism i'or operating same and showing a pin in .position on the trap door;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, showing in section one of the pin chutes, one of the pin-baskets, the mechanism for rais ing the basket, and a modified form of mechanism for opening the basket to permit it to position a pin on the floor;

Figs. 13 and 14 are views taken at right angles to one another showing another of the baskets and the trip mechanism therefor;

Fig. l5 is a more or less diagrammatic plan View showing the relative positions of the several baskets and showing the fluid pressure operated system for raising the baskets;

Figs. 16 Aand 17 are more or less diagrammatic views showing three of the conveyor belts for the spins' and 'the mechanism for assuring that all pins travel in 'the vsame direction to the trap doors;

Fig. 18 is a `diagrammatic view showing the several control cams and the parts which they actuate;

Figs. 19 and 20 are 'a fragmentary front elevation and a fragmentary side elevation, Vrespectively, illustrating the elevator structure and the means Yfor dumping the elevator floor;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic View 'showing 'the means for driving the various `parts of the machine;

Figs. 22, 23 and'24 are fragmentary views on a somewhat enlarged scale illustrating details of this drive;

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit of the machine ;,and.

Fig. 26 is a detail view of the mechanism for insuring proper setting ofthe pins in each 'frame and at the end of each frame.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 30 denotes the floor of the bowling alley and 3l the gutters at each side of the alley. rSet into the `floor of the alley, adjacent the pit or rear end thereof, are 'ten spots 33 (Fig. 4) which may be made of "Bakelite or-similar material. These spots are preferably cylindrical in shape with plain top surfaces that are flush with the floor of thealley. Y.'Ihey arearranged and spaced, as shown in Fig. 4, at the p-roper distances apart corresponding to the arrangement of the pins in a bowling game. The numerals lon .thespots in Fig. 4 correspond to the conventional designa tions of the pins which are to be placed on the several spots.

Each of the spots `is recessed on its under face, as denoted at 34 in Fig. 8, and mounted for reciprocatory movement in each recess is a disc 35 that is made'of some permanently magnetized material. Riveted or otherwisevsccured in each disc 35 is a stud 35, that, when raised, is adapted to bridge two terminal strips-'3.7 to close an electric circuit across those strips. The strips are secured to the under face of the spots 33 by screws 39. An insulating ring 40 is interposed between each set of terminal strips 31 and the corresponding disc 35. These insulating rings 40 have sufcient rigidity to `act as stops limiting .the downward movement of the discs-35.

The bowling pins are denoted at 45. These are of standard constructionv except that each has a recess in its base, as .shown in Figs. 5 and', lin which is xedly secured adisc 46 ofsteelor iron. When a pin is on a spot 33,-thesteel-or iron piece46 in the base of thepin attracts the permanently magnetized disc "35 ofthe spot and causes the disc 35 to be pulled upwardly so that the head of the plunger 3t bridges the terminalsl. When a pin is on a spot, then, it closes an electric circuit across a pair of terminals 3l. As will be described more partieularly-hereinafter, ifa pin is left standingrcn the alley `aftertherolling of the iirstfball of a frame, hold-in circuits will be completed through -all of the vplunger-s 36 and terminals` 31 under the standing pins, so that at a proper time in the cycleof operation of the mechanism, pins can be reset, corresponding to the pins that were Hleft standing, ready for the rolling -of the second. ball of the frame.

The pin-'setting mechanism of this invention 6 is mounted uponv a steel framework which comprises a plurality of uprights, such as the uprights 50 and 5I of Fig. 1, cross-pieces like the cross-pieces 52 and 53 of that figure, and other cross-pieces like the cross-pieces 54 and 55, all bolted cr welded together to make a strong, yrigid support for the operatingparts of the mechanism.

The sweep apparatus 'will now be described. Pivotally mounted on the uprights 5i! of the frame is a shaft 60 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3)' to which is secured a pair of arms 5I. These arms are of telescoping construction and they carry at their outer or free ends the bar or rod 62 on which are mounted the wheels 53. The bar or rod B2 has a bracket 64 secured toit which extends rearwardly and to which is fastened'the sweep plate 65. The rod 62 and plate 65 are of suiiicient width to span the Width of 'the alley 3.0 and extend over the gutters 31, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that, as the sweep swings about the axis of shaft 60, the wheels or rollers 63 will travel inthe gutters `3l and the sweep plate 65 will sweep ofi of the alley and out of the gutters `and into the pit, which is just beyond the'rear end of the alley, any pins left on the alley or in the gutters after a ball is rolled.

The floor of the pit is denoted at 'it in Fig. l and is below the level of the iloo'r 3'@ oi the alley. Mounted in the pit is an elevator or carriage l5. This is adapted to receive the balls, which are rolled down the alley and .the pins which are knocked down by Vthe balls, as well as those that are swept oir of the ,alley by the sweep plate 65. In its lower position, this elevator or carriage rests on the pit floor 1D. This elevator is provided with rigid side walls, with a bottom or door 'i6 (Figs. l, 19 and 20) which is pivotally .connested to the side walls at their lower ends by means of a pin or rod l1, and with a front wail 28 which is pivotally connected to the side walls by means of a -pin or 1'0d19. The elevator iloor l5 is padded as denoted at 80' to prevent marring of the ball and minimize scumng lofthe pins. It has its rear turned upwardly, as'denoted at 76 in Fig. 20, to provide a back wall or stop, and it has a block 82 secured to its under-face adjacent the rear thereof, and a rod 83 near the front thereof. The rod 83 carries rollers 84 which project laterally beyond the sides ofthe elevator.

When the elevator is in its lowermost position, as shown in'F-ig. 1, the front wall T8 pivots by gravity about its hinge pin 'I9 so that it forms an incline or chute down which the bowling ball and the pins can drop into the elevator.

Mounted in the pit iioonlll is a plunger 5 (Fig. l). This plunger is normally spring-pressed upwardly by a spring S8 to project slightly above the top of the pit iioor. VBeneath the floor le is a switch arm 8S and a terminal 8l. rl'he `switch arm 86 is normally held open by a spring or other suitable means (not shown). When the plunger 85 is depressed, however, the switch arm 86 is forced downwardly into contact with terminal 8l.

When the'elevator i5 is in its lowermost positien the block 82 (Fig. 20) Acarriedon'the underface of the elevator floor engages the plunger e5. Spring 88 is selected, however, so that its tension will not be overcome by the weight of the elevator l5 alone. Hence, even .though elevator be resting on plunger 35, if the elevator is empty, switch arm (it will still be open. When a bowling ball B or a pin d5 (Fig. l) drops or is swept onto the floor of 'theelevatoig however, the extra'weightof the ballor'pin is sulcient to assente depress the pin 85 and the switch arm 85 is closed. This serves to start the motor 90 which operates the sweep, as will be described more particularly hereinafter.

The motor 90 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 21) is mounted upon one of the crossbars of the frame. Its armature shaft QI drives the sweep arm shaft @f3 through a pulley 92, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 21) the belt 93, the pulley 94, the shaft 95, the spur gear 96 which is secured to that shaft, the spur gear Q7, the shaft 98 to which this latter gear is secured, a spur pinion 99, which is secured to shaft 98, spur gear IO, the shaft IDI, the crank member |02 (Fig. 24), which is fastened to this last named shaft, the connecting rod IM, the rack |35 which is pivotally connected to connecting rod IM, and the spur gear |06 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft f and which mesheswith rack IE5.

The sweep arms el are normally held in the upper or dotted line position shown in Fig. i. When the sweep motor is started, the crank It causes the sweep arms to be moved down to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 and rearwardly to the end of the alley, sweeping all of the pins off the alley, those left standing as well as those knocked down. As the plate 65 moves above the surface of the floor of the alley, the wheels or rollers E33 roll in the gutters 3| and they continue to roll in the gutters to the full end of the swingr of the sweep arm. The telescoping construction of the sweep arms 6I permits this, for the arms shorten or lengthen properly at all times for the wheels to roll in the gutters. Collars or stops (not shown) are provided on the two telescoping parts of each arm 6I so as to limit the outward movement of the male part of the arm and pree vent the parts from becoming disconnected.

Secured to the shaft IGI is a cam 295 (Figs. 13 and 2l). A follower ZSG, which is secured to a switch arm 298, engages and rides on the periphery of this cam. This cam is so constructed that just before the sweep plate 65 can strike the foremost pin on the alley, it will, through rotation of shaft Iill, close switch 298 to make contact with terminal 297. As will be described more particularly hereinafter, this causes a solenoid to be energized which functions, if any pins have been left standing on the alley after the rolling of the rst ball of a frame, to establish a series of hold-in circuits corresponding to the pin or pins left standing. These hold-in circuits subsequently operate, as will also be described more particularly hereinafter, to insure that, after the sweep has performed its function, pins are reset on the alley corresponding to those that were left standing.

Secured to the shaft Ill is a cam II (Figs. 18 and 21). I I I denotes a follower which engages and rides on the periphery of this cam. This follower is secured to a switch arm II2 that is adapted to make contact with a terminal H3. When the follower II I is riding on the high part of the cam, the switch arm II2 is held open, but when the follower rides on the low part of the cam, the switch arm is allowed to close. The sweep arms tI move, of course, rst in one direction and then in the other under actuation of crank Ifl, but the shaft Ill! rotates always in the same direction which iS clockwise as viewed in Fig. 18. When the shaft IUI has rotated far enough for the sweep 65 to have completed its operating stroke, and for the bowling pins l5 and ball B to have been swept into elevator 15, the follower III rides onto the low portion of the S cam and allows the switch arm l I2 to close, making contact with the terminal II3.

This makes a circuit to the elevator motor I I5 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 25). The armature shaft i I4 of this motor projects from both ends of the motor, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and carries at its opposite ends two Winches I I6, each of which is connected by a cable or rope II'I with the elevator l5. Each cable II'I runs over two spools IIS and HQ (Fig. l), which are journaled in the frame of the machine, under a roll or spool I2il and over a roll or spool I2 I, which are mounted on the side walls of the elevator, and each is connected at its outer end by a loop with the front wall or door 'i3 of the elevator. When the elevator motor H5 is started, therefore, to wind up the cables IiI, the door 'I3 of the elevator is closed first. As soon as this is tight, the tension on the cables pulls up the elevator itself.

n its movement, the elevator slides on the upright rails |24 (Figs. l and 210) which are secured at their lower ends to the pit floor 'I0 and at their upper ends to the frame work of the machine. Projecting rearwardly from the frame work of the machine are rails IZG (Figs. 19 and 20). As the elevator approaches the upper limit of its travel, the rollers i311 carried by rod 83 engage the rails I26 and as the elevator continues upwardly, the floor 'It of the elevator is rocked about its pivot pin l1 to discharge the ball and the bowling pins 45 from the elevator. The elevator is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 in the act of discharging the ball and pins and also in this same position in Fig. 20. The pins roll out in any fashion, one of them being shown rolling out sidewise at 45 in Fig. 1 and one dropping out longitudinally at t5.

There are two spaced rails I3d (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on the frame work of the machine. These rails are mounted far enough apart to allow the pins, which are dumped out of elevator 1E, to drop between them, as shown in the case of the pin i", but they are close enough together to prevent the ball from dropping between them. The rails are inclined toward one side of the alley. Hence the ball, which is shown in dotted lines as B', rolls along these rails to one side of the alley and is returned in the conventional manner to the front of the alley to the bowler.

The bowling pins dropping between the rails 30 drop off on to one or the other of two endless belts |35 and Ist (Figs. 3, 16, 17, and 21) that extend transversely of the frame. These belts are positioned one in front of the other; they are inclined to one another; and they travel in opposite directions. Those pins which drop on to the belt I35 are carried upwardly. as shown in Fig, 16, which is a View looking from the rear, until they strike a deflector |31 (Fig. 3) which causes them to roll forward to drop onto the belt i35. This belt carries these pins and any pins, which drop onto it, upwardly to a point where they drop off onto a belt I4 (Figs. 1, 3, 16, 17 and 21) which is mounted in the frame to run in a front to rear direction.

Mounted on a plate IM, which is secured at the side of the frame of the machine adjacent the point where the bowling pins drop off of the belt [35, is a roller or deilector IM (Figs. 16 and 17). If the pins are carried up by the belt I35 with their butt ends upward, they do not contact the roller IM but drop with these ends in position onto the belt |40, as shown in Fig. 16, but if the pins travel with their top ends upward along the belt |36, thetops engage the roller or deector |4| and the pins are caused to pivot about this roller or deiiector, as shown in Fig. 17, so that the butt ends will drop foremost onto the belt |40. This -deiiector IM, thus, insures that all pins drop onto the belt ifl with their butt ends traveling forward along the belt as shown in Fig. l. A leafv spring |43 which is secured to the plate |44 and whichprojects out above the belt |40 serves to hold the pins in correct position as they start to travel on belt las.

The belts |35 and I'o` are driven from the shaft 98 (Fig. 21) through the spur gears |50 and iti, the shaft |52, and the pulley |53 (Figl lo) which isk secured to that shaft. The beit |36 is driven from the shaft |52 through the bevel gearing les and |55 (Figs. 21 and 22), the vertical shaft |53. the bevel gearing |51 and |58, the shaft |59, and the pulley |60 (Figs. 22 and 16) which is secured to the shaft |59. The shafts |52 and |59 are suita ably journaled in the frame in parallelism to one another.

The belt |35 rides on the pulley |53 and a pulley |03 which is mounted on a stub shaft |54 that is suitably journaled in the frame. An idler |52 serves to take up slack in the belt. The belt |35 rides over the pulley lts and a pulley ifi-5 which is mounted on a stub shaft |56. The belts |35 and |36 are provided with leather cleats |91 and |68, respectively (Fig. 2l) to help grip and carry the pins along.

The belt |40 is driven from the shaft 9d through the bevel gearing and |1| (Figs. 2l and 23), the vertical shaft |12, the bevel. gearing |13 and |14, the shaft |15, andthe pulley |15 which is secured to this shaft. This belt travels over the pulleyl |16 and a pulley |11 which is journaled on a stub shaft |18.

The pins are carried forward by the belt |66 with their butt ends foremost as already described, There is a deflector |8| (Fig. 3) secured to the side plate of the frame and projecting over the belt |40. This serves to force the pins off of the belt |40 onto a trackway which comprises a rail |83 (Figs. 11 and 3) at one side and at the opposite side a series of trap doors |95. The belt itself may also be biased somewhat, so as to permit the pins more easily to roll ofi the belt, by use of a conical idler, such as shown in Fig. i at |84. The smaller end of this idler is toward the inside of the machine so that the pins tend to roll off of the belt |40 toward the rail |93 and trap doors |85.

There are ten trap doors |85, one for each bowling pin of a set. These trap doors are pivoted on a. rod |81 which is secured at opposite ends in the side wallsof 'the frame. The trap doors are normally held locked so that they form an approximately horizontal surface along which the pins canroll from one side of the frame to the other. Since the trap doors and theirol" erating mechanisms :are all identical in construction, the structure `and operating mechanl sm of only one trap door will be explained. The trap door is locked by :a catch |99 (Fig. 11) which is pivoted by means of a pin 19| in a bracket |92. This bracket is secured to one of the cros-sbars |93 of the frame. The catch |99 is bifurcated at its outer end, and, when the catch is in operative position, one of its bifurcations e engages the hook |95 which is secured by a screw |90 to the under side of the trap door. The other bifurcation is engaged by a leaf spring |91 that is secured to a plate |98 which is fastened to the bracket piece |92. The catch |90 is normally 10 heldin locking position by a lever |99 which is pivoted by means of the -pin 200 in the bracket |92. The upper endof this leve-r, which is the shorter end, engages under a lug or teat formed on the short end of catch |90. Each catch |99 is adapted to be released when an electromagnet 205 associated with that catch is energized. The electromagnet is mounted upon the plate |93 and is adapted, when energized, to rock the lever |99 about its pivot 200. The spring |91 acts as a stop', engaging the shorter, upper bifurcation of catch |99, when the -catch is released, to limit the downward swing of the catch about its pivot |9|.

The pins `are carried along the trackway comprising the rail |83 and the trap doors |85 by an endless belt 2 l0 (Figs. 2, 3 and 21). This belt is driven from the shaft 98 through the pulley 2li which is keyed to that shaft. It runs over the pulley 2i and a pulley 2 l2 which is keyed to a stubshaft 2|3 which is suitably journaled in the frame. The belt 2li) is provided with flexible leather cleats 2|4 to help move the pins along.

Because the large or butt end yof a pin will roll further per revolution of a pin than the small or 'head end of the pin, I have provided the trap doors |85 with scallops or recesses, such as indi cated at '2 6 in Fig. 11. These scallops provide a hill-and-dale contour to the trap-doors |5 and make the butt ends of the pins travel over a greater length of surface than the head ends of the pins, thereby, compensating for land offsetting the difference in diameters between the head and butt ends of the pins.

The ten trap-doors are designated, respectively. in Fig. 3 with numerals corresponding to the `conventional designations of the ten bowling pins, respectively, which are adapted to -rest thereon. Each trap-door |85 is of approximately the width of a bowling pin at its maximum diameter. The belt 2|0 therefore carries the pins along the trap doors until one bowling pin registers with each trap-door. Then the leather fingers 2|4 (Fig. 21), which are secured to belt 2|0 and which are flexible, simply deflect :as they pass over the ten pins in the continued running of belt 2|0. The ten pins butting vagainst one lanother at their points kof maximum diameter hold the pins properly spaced in place on the trap-doors and the scallops 2 |6 in the individual trap-doors aid, also, in so hold-ing them.

There are ten electromagnets 205 (Fig. 25), one for each trap-door. These electromagnets are adapted to be energized when the switch 292 (Figs. 18 and 25) is closed. This occurs when the shaft |0| has rotated far enough for the vfollower 29|, which is secured to switch 292, to ride down onto'the flat part of cam 290 that is secured to shaft 10|. Then switch 292 makes contact with terminal 293. This happens when sweep plate has moved far enough on its return stroke to be forward of the foremost (the No. l) pin-spot 33. If only the first ball of a frame has been rolled and some of the pins have been left standing, closing `oi' switch 292 completes, through the hold-in circuits already mentioned, circuits only to those electromagnets 205 associated with the trap-doors corresponding to the pins left standing. If al1 of the pins have been knocked down by the rst ball of a frame, or if it is the second ball of a frame, which has been rolled, then al1 of the electromagnets 205 are energized and all of the trap-doors are opened.

asesoria Beneath each of the trap-doors |85 is a chute 223 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) :and when a trap-door is opened, the pin, that has been lying on that trapdoor, drops into the chute -associated with that trap-door. These chutes are shown in Fig. 2 designated by numerals corresponding to the conventional designations of the pin spots 33 (Fig. 4:) on which the bowling pins that drop through the respective chutes are to be set.

Beneath each chute is a pin receiving .basket 224. These baskets, of which there are ten, one for each pin, may be made in various ways. One embodiment of basket is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. 1t comprises two blocks of wood 225 and 223 which are spaced apart and Whose adjacent faces are formed with opposed concave recesses 22? and 228, respectively, that are shaped to :receive between them the butt end of one of the bowling pins. The blocks 225 and 226 are pivotally connected at their upper ends by pins 233 and '234, respectively, to two parallel metal straps 229. These straps are in turn riveted to a U-shaped carrier-bar '233. This bar has riveted to the lower ends of its legs two U-shaped spacing plates 23| whose legs are interposed between the adjacent faces of the blocks 225 and 223. The pivot points `233 and 234 of the blocks are so disposed that the blocks tend to swing toward one another, the better to grip a bowling pin between them. The spacing plates 23| limit the distance which the two blocks can swing toward one another Iabout their pivots 233 and 234.

The blocks are held in pin receiving position by a latch member 235. This member is pivoted at 235 on the block 225 and is provided with a korf 231 that is adapted to engage a pin 238 that is carried by a strap 239 which is secured to one of the side straps 223 of the basket. When the latch member 235 is in the position shown in Fig. 9, the two blocks 225 and 226 are prevented from moving apart, and they can securely hold a bowling pin between them. When the latch member is lifted, however, to disengage its kerf 231 from the pin 238, the two blocks swing about their respective pivots 233 and 234 to release the bowling i pin. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and l0, the latch member 235 is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 245 y which extends beneath the basket a suicient distance to engage the floor of the alley 30, when the basket is lowered, before the basket itself does, so that the keeper 235 is unlatched by engagement of portion 245 with the floor, and the bowling pin in the basket is released.

In another embodiment of the invention, each basket comprises blocks 225 and 22S (Figs. 13 and 14) which are made like the blocks 225 and 223 and which are pivoted at their -upper ends by pins 233' and 234', respectively, to plates 229 that are carried by a U-shaped carrier-bar 233'. The swinging movement of the blocks toward one another is limited by U-shaped spacing straps 23 similar to the straps 23 and the blocks are adapted to be held together by a keeper 235 similar to the keeper 235. The diierence between the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and that shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is in the means for releasing the keeper. In Figs. 13 and 14, this comprises a rod 240 which is connected to the keeper, intermediate the ends of the keeper, by means of a pin 24|. This rod slides in guides 242 that are secured to or formed integral with the U-bar 230. Near the end of the downward movement of the basket, the head 265 of the rod 240 engages a coil spring 254, which is mounted on the frame, Thus,

12 Y the rod 240 is moved relative to the U-strap 230', disengaging the keeper 235 from the pin 238 and releasing the bowling pin from the basket.

The baskets are adapted to be lowered by gravity and to be returned to their normal upper position by air pressure. For this purpose, piston rods are secured to the bars 230 (Figs. 9 and 10) or the bars 233 (Fig. 14). The hole through which the piston rod may be connected to strap 230 is designated 243 in Fig. 10. One of the piston rods is shown fragmentarily at 252 in Fig. 14.

Eecause of the conned space and the necessity for lowering each bowling pin accurately on its proper spot 33, it is not practical to provide piston rods directly above and centrally disposed with reference to each pin-basket. Some of the piston rods 252 would then interfere with the chutes 22|). The means for raising the baskets must be clear of the area in which the chutes are mounted. For this reason, some of the baskets, namely those baskets which are adapted to carry the bowling pins that are to be place on Nos. 4, 5 and 6 spots 33, have to be carried, as shown in Figs. 12 and 15, by pairs of piston rods 252 spaced from one another and positioned so as to clear the chutes. These baskets have their blocks 225 and 226 or 225' and 226', as the case may be, pivotally mounted in a rectangular frame 24S. Bars 250 are welded or otherwise secured to opposite ends of these lframes and piston rods 252 are secured to the ends of these bars 25E).

This structure is employed for carrying pins Nos. 4, 5 and. (i, whether the basket trip mechanism of Figs. 9 and l0 be employed or a basket trip mechanism more like that of Figs. 13 and 14 be used. The latter type trip mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 12. Here, the keeper, as shown at 235", has an elongated projecting portion con.- nected to a rod 248", similar to the rod 243 of Figs. 13 and 14. This rod passes through an opening in the frame on which is mounted a coil spring 264 that is adapted to engage the head 265 ci the rod. This spring prevents the rod from moving downward as far as the basket. Thus, thc keeper 235" is disengaged from the pin 233 at the end of downward travel of the basket, allowing the basket to open under the weight of the bowling pin carried by it and allowing the pin to be deposited on one of the spots 33 on the alley.

The piston rods 252 are all alike and actuated alike. Each is secured at its upper end to a piston 253 which reciprocates in a cylinder 254, that is suitably mounted on the frame, Air is `supplied to the under sides or" the pistons 253, to raise the piston rods 252 an-d the baskets 224, from a supply duct 255 through a control valve denoted generally at 25S, Fig. 15. .A duct 257 leads from this valve to ducts 258 which connect with each o the cylinders 254 through ducts 263. Each piston rod 252 normally is heldin its uppermost position by a ball-shaped spring-pressed dctent 2 62 (Fig. l2) which is housed in a boss at the lower end of each cylinder 254 and which engages in a recess in the piston rod.

The coil spring, which actuates each detenta 252, is strong enough to hold the associated piston-rod 252 and basket 224 in uppermost position, but when a bowling pin is dropped into the basket from the associated chute 220, the weight of the pin is enough to overcome the detent, and the basket drops down to set the pin on the alley. Since a pin is dropped into a chute only when a trap-door |85 (Fig. 11) is opened, it will be obvious that with the construction shown only those bowling pins will be placed on the alley,

after the rolling of a ball, which. require to be set there in the course of the bowling game.

After the bowling pin or pins required have been placed on the alley, the basket or baskets |24 are raised by air-pressure on the under side of piston or pistons 253.

The valve for controlling the air ducts to cylinders 254 may be of the structure shown in Fig. 18. It has a valve stem '210 and two valve heads 21| and 212. A coilv spring 213 is interposed between the cap 214, that encloses one end of the valve casing, and a washer 215, that is secured to the valve stern, This spring normally presses the valve upwardly to the position shown, where the valve head 212 is seated and closes off the connection between the air supply duct 255 and the duct 251 that leads to the cylinders 254. The ducts 2F59 are then on exhaust through the duct 251 and the vent 216 in the cap 214 that covers the upper end of the valve casing.

The valve 256 is operated by a cam 293. This cam is secured to the shaft Itl (Fig. 2l) and is adapted, therefore, to rotate in time with the movement of the sweep 95. motor 90 is started, the shaft |9| starts to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. i8, as already stated. The ducts 259 are therefore on supply, and the baskets |24 are held positively in their raised positions. til the sweep 65 approaches the end of its operating stroke. Then the follower 215 rides onto the low portion of the cam 230, and the cylinders 254 are put on exhaust. Then, the baskets 224 are held up only by the detents 2e? (Fig.

l2), and as soon as a bowling pin is dropped into a basket, in the further operation of the machine, the basket drops down to set the pin on the alley. After the sweep has returned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the follower 215 rides up on the high part of the cam 290. again to put the cylinders 255 on supply to raise the baskets 22d again to their uppermost position.

The pin-setting mechanism is, as previously stated, preferably put into operation by the rolling of a ball and the dropping of that ball onto the elevator floor (Fig. l) to close switch 86. This starts the sweep motor 23. Thereafter the operations are controlled from the functioning of this motor and the parts which are actuated thereby.

One way in which the machine may be wired to accomplish its purpose is illustrated vdiagrammatically in Fig. 25.

Li and Le denote the main lines. These lines are connected by lines 32| and 322 with a stepdown transformer 329. At the start of a bowling game, of course, ten pins are on the ten spots 33 (Fig. 4). As long as these pins are on the spots, all ten of the switches 33 are closed by the attraction of the discs et (Fig. for the permanent magnets 35 (Fig. 3). A circuit is then made through each switch arm 35 from transformer 320 through line 320, switch arm 36, line 31, line 325, electromagnet 325, line 321, line 328, and line 329 to the transformer 32e. This energizes each of the electromagnets 328, closing the switch arms and 33| and opening the switch arm 332. The ten switch arms 36 and ten electromagnets 525 are shown in Fig. 25 but the circuitsthrough all are similar and only one has, therefore, been specifically described. l

A lamp 335 is provided for each pin. This is When the sweep They are so held unlighted when the pin is on its spot,- the circuit to the lamp being made from the line 329 through the line 33B, the lamp, the linel 325, the line 31, switch 36 and the line 324 back to the transformer 320. The lamp circuits are identical, so one only need be described. The lamps may be mounted on a board above the alley or at any other suitable spot so that the bowler can tell at a glance what pins are standing.

If any of the pins are knocked down when a ball is rolled down the alley, the switches 39 associated with the spots, on which those pins have been positioned, open; the circuits to the electromagnets 326 associated with those spots are broken; and the lights 335 corresponding to those spots are extinguished. When the ball falls into the elevator it closes by its weight the switch (Figs, l and 25). A circuit is thus made from the main line L1 through the switch B5, the line 81, the line 300, a standard controller 30|, and the line 302 to the main line L2. This causes controller 30| to close the circuit to and start a time relay 303. The time relay, which may be of standard construction, starts motor 90, a circuit being made te that motor from the time relay through the line 305, the motor itself being connected by line 305 with line L2. The motor drives the sweep arms 5| and shaft |0| as already described.

When the shaft iti has rotated far enough for the follower 293 (Fig. 18) to ride o of the low part of can'i 295 onto the high part of that cam, .switch 293 will be closed. This occurs before the sweep can strike a bowling pin and when the sweep is about in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l. The closing of switch 293 causes a circuit to be made from the line 323 through lines 315 and 336, switch 293, line 291, a nornally-closed switch 355, lines 38| and 332, solenoid 310, and lines 316. 320 and 329 back to transformer 323. This energizes solenoid 319, actuating a pawl 359 that is connected to the core of the solenoid. The pawl engages a ratchet wheel 339 (Figs. 25 and 25) which is mounted on the same shaft 312 as a cam 355. This cam has a plurality of high spots and a plurality of low spots. It is engaged by a follower 331 which is adapted to operate switch 355.

The switch 355 is normally open, and at the sta-rt of the bowling game, the follower 351 is riding on one of the low spots of cam 355 so that switch 355 is actually open. When solenoid 315 is energized. however, as described above, shaft iz is rotated through a slight angle by action of pawl 359 and ratchet wheel 368. This causes follower 351 to ride up on a high spot of cam 355 and close switch 355.

This completes a hold-in circuit to each of the electromagnets 325 corresponding to the bowling pins that have been left standing en the alley. This circuit is similar for each electromagnet 3725 and is from line 325 through lines 32S and 32's', electromagnet 325, lines 325 and 331, switch arm i lines 3313 and 330, switch 335, and lines 5 :e and 32d back to transformer 323. Thus the electromagnets 325, corresponding to the pins left standing, after rolling of the rst ball of a aune. will remain energized even after vthose iding pins have` been subsequently swept and ofi the alley by the'sweep in its ation. It is to be noted, also. that the lights '5 corresponding to these pins left standing' wiil remain lighted, the circuits to these lights being made in each instance from line 329 '5 through line 333, lamp 335. line 325, and thence as described above for the circuit to the corresponding electromagnet 326.

All this occurs before the sweep contacts a pin and when, as stated, it is about in the full line position shown in Fig. 1. When the sweep arms have swung far enough for the sweep 65 to sweep the pins off of the alley, the cam I 10 (Figs. 18 and 21) will have rotated far enough to close the switch 112. This closes a circuit from the main line L1 through the line 312 (Fig. 25), the line Sill, the switch 112, the line 315, a standard controller 316, the line 311, the motor H5, and the line 313 to the main line Le. This causes the elevator motor 115 to be started to raise elevator` as already described. The pins and ball are raised by the elevator and dumped out when the elevator nears the top of its travel. Then the follower 111 rides up on the high part of cam Hli (Fig. 18) again; switch 112 is opened; elevator motor 115 is stopped; and the elevator drops back to the pit oor to the position shown in l'ig. l.

Meantime the ball will be returned to the bowler and ten pins will be carried by belts 135,

ii, iilil and 210 (Figs. 16 and 21) onto the ten trapdoors 185 (Figs. 3 and l1). Meantime, also, the sweep will have been reversed through operation of crank 162 (Figs. 2l and 24) and will be making its idle return stroke. When it has again reached the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, the shaft 101 will have rotated far enough for cam 290 to have closed switch 292. This will close a circuit to each of the electromagnets 2l5 associated with the hold-in circuits previously established as described above,

The circuits to the electromagnets 295 are identical and only one of them, therefore, need be described. This circuit is from line 32% through line 293, switch 282, lines 343 and 3M., electromagnet 295, line 342, switch arm 33|, lines Zidi,

and 324 back to transformer 32o. The electroinagnets 285 thus energized release the associated trap-doors 185 and the bowling pins on the trap-doors, which are released, will drop down the chutes 220, which are associated with those trap-doors into the baskets 22d which are associated with those chutes. The weight of the pin in each basket will cause the basket to drop by gravity and set the pin on the oor. Thus, pins will be reset on spots 33 corresponding to the pins that were left standing after the ball was rolled.

in order to allow time for setting of the pins prevent the baskets from being damaged by careless bowler rolling a ball down the alley while the baskets are still in their lowered positions, setting up the pins, the time-relay d, already referred to is provided. This stops the sweep motor 90 during the time electromagnets 2de are energized and for a sufficient period to serinit the lowering of the baskets 224; then it automatically restarts the motor again. Stoppage occurs when the sweep plate is in the full line position shown in Fig. l where it can protect a lowered basket, such as is shown in dotted lines in that ligure, from being hit by a ball should the bowler inadvertently roll the hall down the alley at this stage.

As soon as motor Sli is restarted, follower 215 (Fig. i3) rides up on the high part of cam 2S@ and air pressure is applied to the pistons 253 (Fig. 12), associated with the lowered baskets, to raise those baskets again. In the continued rotation of shaft IBI, follower 291 rides oi the low part of cam 280 to deenergize the electromagnet or electromagnets 205 which were just previl il ously energized; and the sweep is swung up tov the dotted line position shown in Fig. l. The shaft 18E makes one revolution per cycle of operation of the machine, and at the end of its revolution, the follower 2% rides down onto the low part of cam 255, allowing switch 25B to open, thus breaking the hold-in circuit to the electromagnet or electromagnets 2M previously energized. The time relay 304 will now have completed its cycle and will stop motor 913.

The required pins have now been reset and the mechanism is now ready for the bowler to roll the second ball of the frame. Of course thc pins which have been reset will close the switches St under the spots 33 on which they are reset, and circuits will, therefore, be remade to the corresponding eleotroinagnets in the manner above described.

The pin-setting mechanism. may again be put in operation by the rolling of the ball down the alley and its dropping into elevator T5 to close switch St. This starts sweep motor 98 in the manner above described, causing the shaft 161 to rotate and the sweep to be swung down as above described. The switch 295i is again closed through rotation oi cam 225 as above described, again thereby closing a circuit to solenoid 319 in the .manner above described. This again causes shifting o cam 3E@ by rotation of ratchet wheel under actuation of pawl On this shift or" cam 366, however, follower 361 rides down onto low portion of the cam and switch 3145 is opened. This prevents hold-in circuit being made iol' of the eleetromagnets S25.

any of the pins are knocked down by the second ball, the switches 35 corresponding to those joins are thereby opened, and the associated elecw troinagnets are thereby deenergized. This causes the associated switch arms and 331 to out of engagement and the associated switch arm 332 to make contactA if all o the `ins left standing the first ball a traine are knocked down by the second ball, all of the eiectromagnets will he deenergized; all of the switch arms 331i and siii will drop out; and all of the switch arms 332 will close. But even though some of the pins remain standing after the second ball has been rolled, this saine result will be eiiected, for when the sweep plate in its movement sweeps these remaining pins oil the alle", the electromagnets associated with these remaining pins will also be deenergised, for the hold-in circuit to these pins, which was operative on rolling of the iirst ball of the frame, is now open through opening of switch After the second ball of a frame has been rolled, then, whether all of the pins have een knocked down or not, all of the electrcniaghets are deenergizecl; all, of the switch arms Sii ,nd 331 drop out; and all of the switch arms .i.. close.

When all ci the switch arms 332 are closed, circuit is nitide from line 324 through line 3%, switch 332, line 341 in series through each of the switches 332 and their connecting lines, and through line 311i), electromagnet 3553, and lines i551, 328 and 329 back to transformer 32%. This energizes electromagnet 351.2 causing switch arm 355 to be opened and the ten switch arms 353 and a switch arm 33S to be closed.

After shaft lill has rotated far enough for cani Hi) to close switch H2 (Fig. 18), the elevator motor is started as before; the ball and pins `are lifted up and dumped; the ballis returned to the front end of the alley; and the pins are carried by the belts 135, 136, 14E! and 2111 (Fig. 21)

onto the trap-doors |85. When the shaft has rotated far enough, cam 290 again closes switch 292'.y On this second cycle of the frame, however, the closing of switch 292 completes a circuit to each of the electromagnets 205. These circuits are all identi-salaud only one need therefore be described. This circuitis from line 329 through line 293, switch 292, lines 343, and 344, electromagnetY 205, line 381, now closed switch arm 356, lines 359, 351,340 and 324 back to transformer 320. Thus all ten of the electromagnets 205 are energized; all ten of the trap-doors are opened; and tenV pins are dropped through chutes 220 into baskets 224, lowered, and placed on the alley. The pins are therefore reset ready for the next frame.

The-switch arm- 389 is provided to close at this time a circuit toa standard counter 385. This circuitis from line 329 through counter 385, line 388, switch 389, and lines 358, 351, 340 and 324 to transformer 320. The counter is provided so that the proprietor or operator of the alley may have a record of the frames rolled by the bowler.

'Ihe sweepis stopped by action of time relay 304, as before, while the pins are being lowered onto their spots. Then, as before, the pin-baskets are raised again by, air-pressure; switch 292 is opened to vbreak the circuits to electromagnets 235; the sweep is-returned to its inoperative position; and sweepv motor 90 is stopped by time-relay 304. When the ten pins have been positioned on the spots, all the switches. 36 are closed. This reenergizes-electromagnets 326, closing switch arms 330 and 33| and opening switch arms 332. The opening of switchV arms332 breaks the circuit to solenoid 350; switch arms 356 drop out and switch arm355 closes.

IfY al1 of the pins are knocked down by the rst ball of a frame, that is, if a strike is rolled, then all of the switches 36 are opened. All of the switch arms 330 and 33| drop out and all of the switch. arms 332 close. The same sequence of operations takes place, therefore, as has just been described with reference to the rolling of the second ball of a frame. Arms 332 close a circuit to electromagnet 350; switch arm 355 is opened; and the ten switch arms 355 and single switch arm 389 are closed. Whenthe switch 292 is subsequently closed, then, in the operation of the mechanism, the ten electromagnets 205 are energized, and ten pins. are reset on the alley, ready for the next frame. The proper sequence of cycles is maintained even though a strike be rolled, because when all the switch arms 330 are opened,y the circuit to solenoid 310 is broken by the opening of switch arm 355. Therefore in this cycle ofoperation of the mechanism, the solenoid 310 is not energized; the shaft 312 and cam 366 are not rotated; and the switch 365, which is always open at the beginning of a frame, remains open. The mechanism is in its proper relation for rolling of a new frame.

Occasionally a bowler will roll the first ball of a. frame into the gutter and not knock down a single pin, but withl his second ball he will knock downy all of the pins, scoring a spare. Ordinarily, when a pin is left standing after the rolling of the rst ball of a frame, the solenoid 310 is energized, as above described, and pawl 369 advances ratchet wheel 368 to cause cam 366 to close switch 365 and when the second ball of the frame is rolled, this solenoid is again energized to advance ratchet wheel 368 to allow switch 365 to open. all. of. the pins are knocked down by a single ball, however,V electromagnet 350 is ener- 18 gized; switch 355 is opened and solenoid 310 cannot be energized. When a strike ball is thrown as the second ball of the frame, the switch 365 would ordinarily remain closed. This would put the whole mechanism out of time, because at the beginning of the next frame switch 355 would be closed whereas it should be open at the beginning of eachframe.

To keep the mechanism in time, I therefore provide a second cam 390 on shaft 312 (Figs. 25 and 26). This cam may be identical with cam` 366 and the high parts of both cams are in registry with one another, and the low parts of both cams are in registry with one another. The cam 390 controls a normally-open switch 39|. When a high part of the cam is in engagement with the switch, the switch is closed,and when the switch is riding on a low part of the cam, the switch is open. When switch 365 is closed, then, switch 39| is closed and vice versa.

If the first ball of a frame is a gutter ball, then, solenoid 310 can be energized in the manner already described to advance ratchet wheel 368. This will cause cam 366 to close switch 365 and simultaneously cam 390 will close switch 39|. If the second ball of a frame is a strike-ball, then, solenoid 310 will again be energized, even though the circuit to solenoid 310 through switch 355 is broken by opening of switch 355 on energization of solenoid 350, for, as soon as switch 298 is closed by cam 295 (Fig. 18) a circuit will be made to the solenoid through now-closed switch 39|. This circuit is from line 329 through lines 328 and 316, solenoid 310, line 382, now-closed switch 39|, line 392, now-closed switch 298, and lines 386, 315 and 324 back to transformer 320. Ratchet 368 is therefore advanced on the throwing of the strikeball as the second ball of a frame, and cam 366 is therefore also advanced allowing switch 365 to open ready for the next frame. Switch 39| is incidentally allowed to open also. The proper sequence of machine cycles is, therefore, made possible.

Operation While the operation of the above described embodiment of the invention will be understood from the preceding description, it may brieily be summed up here. Assuming that ten pins are on the spots, the mechanism is set into operation when a ball, that is rolled down the alley, drops into the elevator 15 closing switch 86 (Fig. 1); This starts sweep motor and drives shaft |0l and the crank |02 which actuates the sweep.

If any of the pins are knocked down, the switches 36 associated with those pins op'en and the electromagnets 326 associated with those pins are deenergized. When the cam 295, which is driven by shaft |0 I, closes switch 298, however, if there are pins left standing, hold-in circuits are made to the electromagnets 326 corresponding to those pins through energization of solenoid 319 and advance of ratchet wheel 338 which causes cam 366 to close switch 365. When the standing pins are subsequently knocked off their spots, then, by sweep 65, the electromagnets 326, corresponding to the pins that were left standing, remain energized.

If rall of the pins are knocked down by the iirst ball, all of the switches 36 open; and al1 of the electromagnets 326 are deenergized, allowing all arms 33,2 tovclose. This causes electromagnet 350 tobe energized, opening switch arm 355 and preventing energization of solenoid 310 and closing ofy switch 365.

Thereafter as the shaft |6| rotates, the sweep carries off of the alley all of the pins, any left standing as Well as any knocked down by the ball. Then cam |51 closes switch l |2, starting elevator motor I5, and lifting the pins and ball. These are dumped when rollers 34 (Fig. 20) engage brackets |26. The pins are then carried to the trap doors |85 by belts |35, |36, |40 and 2|6. Switch 2 is opened by cam H0, as soon as the pins have been dumped, and the elevator 'l5 drops down by gravity.

Regardless of whether some or all of the pins were left standing after the ball was rolled, or whether all were knocked down, when the shaft has rotated far enough for the cam 290 to close switch 292, circuits will be made to electromagnets 205. If all of the pins were left standing after the ball was rolled, hold-in circuits will have been made to all of the electromagnets 325, holding switch arms 33| closed; consequently when switch 262 is closed all of the electromagnets 205 will be energized to open all of the trandoors |85 to release pins to all of the baskets 224 and permit those baskets to reset, as recuired, all of the pins on the alley. If some only of the pins were left standing, then only the switch arms 33| corresponding to those pins will be held closed by hold-in circuits through electromagnets 326, and when switch 292 is closed only the electromagnets 205 corresponding to those pins will be energized and only the corresponding trap-doors |85 will be opened. If all of the pins were knocked down, circuits will be made to all of the electromagnets 205 through the now-closed switches 356, when the switch 292 is closed, and all of the trap-doors |85 will be opened to release pins.

The pins released from the trap doors fall into baskets 224 and the pin-containing baskets drop by gravity to the iioor, the weight of a pin overcoming detent or detents 262. If the basket is of the type shown in Figs. 9 and 10, as soon as projection 245 hits the floor, the pin carried by the basket is released. If the basket is of the type shown in Figs. 12 and 14, the pin is released when flange 265" or 265 hits spring 264' or 264.

Motor 90 is stopped during lowering of the baskets, but is restarted again by the time relay as soon as the pins are on the floor. Then cam 280 trips valve 210 and the baskets are raised again. While the baskets are being lowered, sweep 65 will be held in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 to which it has been returned by crank |02. When the motor 90 is restarted, the crank is restarted also, and the crank returns the sweep to its inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Then the time relay 364 stops motor 90 and the cycle of the machine is completed.

' If some or all of the pins were left standing after rolling of the first ball, the bowler rolls a second ball to complete the frame. The operation of the mechanism is the same as for the rst ball except that this time when the solenoid 310 is energized by closing of switch 298, the switch 365 is allowed to open and no hold-in circuits are made to any of electromagnets 326. Hence, when any pins, which may be left standing by the second ball, are swept off the alley by the sweep, all of the electromagnets 326 are deenergized allowing all of switch arms 332 to close. This energizes electromagnet 350 and as in the case of a strike, when switch 292 is closed, all of trap doors V|85 are opened and a whole set of ten pins are positioned on the alley.

Cam 390 insures that the timing of the machine is maintained even if no pins be knocked 01T the alley by the rst ball of a frame and all of the pins be knocked on by the second ball of that frame, for it insures that switch 39| be closed to permit energization of solenoid 310 after rolling of the second ball as well as after rolling of the rst. Of course, if the rst ball of a frame is a strike, solenoid 316 is not energized, for all switch arms 332 close, closing a circuit to electromagnet 356, opening switch 355 and closing switches 356. When switch 232 is closed, then, all the pins are reset.

The pin-setting mechanism can be operated with ten pins alone. However, if it is desired to shorten the time of operation of the apparatus an additional set of ten pins may be provided. There is room enough on the belts |35, |36 and |40 to carry these extra pins while ten pins are on the trap doors |85. The belt 2|0 is close enough to the belt |40 to prevent piling up of the pins on the trap doors. If all of the pins are knocked down by a ball, the pins on the trap doors are dropped into the chutes, and as soon as the belts start to move again, on restarting of motor 90, the eXtra pins on the belts are carried on to the trap doors, ready for use in the next cycle of operation of the machine. If only part of the trap doors are opened to drop less than a set of pins into the chutes, when belt 2|0 starts to move again it carries the pins remaining on the trap doors over to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, covering successively each trap door from the left with a pin, and then belt 2|0 and belts |40, |36 and |35 supply pins to the uncovered trap doors. The extra pins then just ride idly on the belts during the rest of the cycle.

While the mechanism has been described as being put into operation for a cycle by the dropping of a ball onto the ioor of elevator 15, it might be put into operation manually by the bowler.'

Thus, switch 86 might be eliminated and a standard start-button 3|() (Fig. 25) used instead. This button can be mounted at a convenient point at the head of the alley, readily accessible to the bowler. When a ball is rolled and drops into the elevator, the bowler can press in button 3 0, starting sweep motor 90, and the mechanism will from that point on go through its cycle exactly as when switch 86 is employed. Button 3|0 is adapted to close a circuit to line 300 from line 396, which is connected to line L1.

Under the conventional rules, if a bowler rolls a strike with the nrst ball of the tenth or nal frame of a game, he is entitled to roll two other balls. Ii' he rolls a strike on the second -ball but leaves some pins up after the third ball, the machine would ordinarily reset pins corresponding to those left standing. However, with the game ended, what is desired is that a whole new set of pins be reset ready for the rst frame of the new game. To permit this to be done, the bowler can press in button 4|@ which is connected with line 324 by line 4|| and with line 343 by line 4|2. When this button is pressed in, electromagnet 350 is energized to open switch 355 and close switches 356 to cause all of the trap-doors to be opened in the machine cycle that is started by the dropping of the third ball of the tenth frame of the game onto the floor of elevator l5.

If through inadvertence the bowler fails to press button 4|!) in time in the machine cycle, he can press in button 3 i0 and run the machine through another cycle to sweep all the pins 01T the alley and set up a new set. 

